EP21: Pilgrims Europe’s Aaron McKenna on Stocking Density, Performance and Sector Growth

In this episode of the Poultry.Network podcast, Tom Willings and Tom Woolman talk to Aaron McKenna, Head of Broiler Operations UK at Pilgrims Europe.

Aaron outlines his route into poultry – from a small mixed farm in Northern Ireland with a strong interest in dairy, through a graduate scheme at Moy Park, to his current role. 

He also explains how the business supported him through a doctorate focused on Campylobacter, working with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast and AFBI.

The conversation then turns to the move from Moy Park to Pilgrims Europe. 

Aaron sets out what the change in name and structure has meant on the ground and how the integration of several large businesses is going. 

Recent group results have highlighted the European division as a strong performer, which has helped underline that the new structure is working.

On farming, Aaron talks about Pilgrims Europe’s long history of producing at 30kg/m², particularly in Northern Ireland, and how that experience meant they were more confident than most when the wider GB market moved to lower stocking densities. 

He argues that 30kg/m² is a good balance between welfare, efficiency and affordability. 

He shares recent figures from 2025, including an average EPF over 470 across three weeks and more than ten flocks exceeding EPF 500, alongside improving FCR and low mortality.

The episode also covers grower relationships and investment. 

Aaron describes how liveweight prices and on-farm returns have improved, helping farmers reinvest in sheds and infrastructure. 

He gives examples of new builds on contract farms in England and a major redevelopment of a company-owned rearing site, replacing older buildings with modern houses.

On sustainability, Aaron explains how lessons from projects such as Beech Farm – with rainwater harvesting, solar and battery storage, heat exchangers and ground-source heat pumps – are informing what should become “standard spec” on new builds. 

He also updates listeners on Pilgrims’ Tully 1 anaerobic digestion plant, which runs on poultry litter and supplies heat and power to local homes, and plans for Tully 2, which will allow all NI broiler litter to be directed into AD and nutrients recovered into fertiliser products.

Looking ahead, Aaron says the priorities for the next 12 months are to maintain current performance levels and to work with planners and regulators to unlock new poultry development, so the sector can continue to invest and keep pace with UK chicken demand, which he estimates is growing at around 5–6% a year.

00:00 Intro
00:15 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:56 Quarterly Results Discussion
01:39 Aaron's Career Journey
03:03 Doctorate and Academic Collaborations
04:41 Company Transition and Restructuring
08:31 Multi-Protein Strategy
09:48 Has the extensive experience with reduced stocking density been a competitive advantage for optimizing efficiencies and recruiting or retaining farmers?
17:39 Sustainability Efforts
21:49 Future Goals and Challenges
24:00 Outro